A Dry, Storm-Free Month

Weather-wise, last month was noteworthy not for any storms we had, but because we had no severe storms, said Richard G. Hendrickson, the United States Cooperative weather observer in Bridgehampton.
“November is usually the month for 60-to-70-mile-per-hour winds and severe coastal erosion,” Mr. Hendrickson wrote in his monthly weather report.
“Years ago, a sailing ship or a steamer was ashore, trees down, any fruit left on the farmer’s orchard was all blown down, grazing cattle were brought back from the grazing fields in Montauk, and it was cider-making time. Of course, it was then time to husk the field corn, split the firewood, and put storm windows on the farm home,” recalled Mr. Hendrickson, a retired farmer who turned 100 this year.
“The last of the squash and pumpkins were brought in for baking. All crops and livestock were brought under cover for the winter. Then, on a nice day, seaweed was banked on the north and west side of the home foundation. While getting the seaweed, one would get a mess of clams or scallops.” Colder days meant inside jobs like making headcheese and salt pork, bacon and hams, and cider from the orchard apples.
The warmest day last month was the 13th, when it was 66 degrees. The coldest night was Nov. 27, at 25 degrees.
There was rain on six days last month for a total of 1.24 inches, a small amount compared to the long-term average of 4.25 inches. November, Mr. Hendrickson said, “is often one of the wettest months of the year.”